October 1 2025
2 min read
The approach to winterising your quarry pumps depends on the frequency and purpose of their use. Many industrial pumps are vital to site-wide operational uptime, and inaction on winter preparation is likely to lead to problems at one point or another.
Freezing water can be incredibly powerful as it expands, putting undue pressure on the inside of pumps, pipes and valves which can easily crack or deform. Ice forming around impellers can cause pump seizure and motor overload, or pump vibration. And an inoperable dewatering pump when the thaw comes is snow joke!
Ah, that’s why the pump had failed! Ice build up in the impeller.
As winter approaches, it is a good time to check your pump systems site-wide, especially those outside or in unheated enclosures. Your winter pump preparations will depend on whether the pump needs to remain operational for most of the season, or if it can be turned off and dried out for the coldest months.
15 Winter Preparation Tips for Pumps
1. If the pumps will be off for a time, empty all pipelines of water if possible. Leave valves open to prevent them from freezing shut and to allow maximum air movement and drainage.
2. If your pump is fitted with a drain plug, use this to empty out water from the chamber.
3. Insulate your pumps and pipelines; wrap them in lagging or insulation.
4. If possible, situate the pumps inside an enclosure or pump room.
5. Fit your pumps with a heated jacket. Custom-made heating jackets that fit the pump snuggly can be very cost-effective to run, as they retain the heat better. These are available from Atlantic Pumps, with most brands of pumps catered for.
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6. If your pumps are inside an enclosure or room, install a heater with a frost protection thermostat setting. Bear in mind, however, that this can be costly in terms of energy usage as you’ll be heating the whole room.
7. For air-powered pumps, ensure the air exhaust pipe discharges into a warmer environment.
8. For diesel pumps, check the oil level and consider changing it to a winter-temperature weight grade such as SAE10 (check recommendations in your pump’s user manual). Check the antifreeze and coolant too.
9. Keeping water moving slows its freezing, so if the pump can’t be drained during a prolonged or very cold snap, keep it going by recirculating the water if necessary.
10. Avoid water splashing onto surroundings, which is likely to build up ice quickly on cold surfaces.
11. Consider lowering submersible pumps into deeper (relatively warmer) water.
12. Check the pump and pipes for splits and cracks before and soon after restarting the pumps.
13. If pumps are to be left running during freezing periods, think about how you will protect and monitor them. To prevent pump damage, ensure the feed supply is maintained (ice blockage can reduce suction pressure). Heated jackets are available for both tanks and pumps to keep the temperature above 4oC. Temperature probes can be linked to online platforms like Senteos, and programmed to turn on heated jackets as temperatures start to drop, then shut pumps down if critical temperatures are reached.
14. If pumps are to be used during or soon after freezing weather, be sure that they are free of ice and turning freely before starting. This may need isolating at the power source to override float switches or other auto-starts.
15. If the water destination/use permits, add a suitable anti-freeze to the water just prior to turning the pump off. Mono Propylene Glycol / MPG is considered a non-toxic de-icer, but check with the supplier that the grade is suitable for your application (pH stable, non-corrosive, food-grade depending on your situation). Glycerine mixed with water also makes a good anti-freeze (even though pure glycerine ‘freezes’ at 17 degrees!)
Hopefully, these tips will help you have a trouble-free winter. Don’t forget, Atlantic Pumps carry stocks of spare parts, Gromatex piping, heated jackets and can deliver built-up pumps fast.
Contact us for advice and further information here.
We also take a sustainable approach to our work and are committed to reducing energy waste from pumps. Our expert knowledge allows us to reduce energy usage by 20% on the average site!
Call us today on 0808 196 5108 for more information.
